The Vanderbilt/NIMH Silvio O. Conte Center for Neuroscience Research invites you to attend our final public outreach event: a presentation and panel discussion on The Science of Violence and Compassion.

Brain science is the least explored of all our sciences. As a result, there is a lot of fear, trepidation and stigma associated with the invisible world of brain illnesses (referred to as “mental illnesses”). People are afraid to advocate for themselves and their loved ones to get appropriate help in times of need.

But the brain is just another organ, and as such, can be healthy or unhealthy. In this presentation we will discuss what is known in regard to risk factors for engaging in violent behavior and protective factors for building connection and compassion.

At the Avielle Foundation, we seek to better understand the neuro-biological and environmental factors associated with violence and compassion. Once a deeper understanding has been established, we can apply these insights to educate the everyday citizen about how to identify the signs and symptoms of someone troubled or in crisis, how to responsibly advocate for those at risk of violence to themselves or others, and most importantly, how to foster kind, healthy, and compassionate individuals and communities.

The guest panel features Jeremy Richman, PhD and Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN of the Avielle Foundation, Christopher Slobogin, JD of the Vanderbilt Law School and will be moderated by Bruce Jennings, MA, of the Vanderbilt Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society.

Click on the links below to learn about the esteemed members of our panel.